[Main ShadowClan Camp] I'll follow you into the dark

Dovepaw found he couldn't sleep, his ears flicking as his skin twitched. It was still not yet sunrise, the Dawn patrol likely yet to even wake, never mind assemble and head out, yet he felt on edge. It was the snow, the feeling of leafbare still heavy upon them even with newleaf only just on the horizon. He could never feel safe while the air was crisp and stung at his senses... it was always such a time of worry. So much went wrong during leafbare. So little prey, so much disease, so much cold... It was an easy time for no clan and no cat, and even in the best of leafbares there was still plenty to worry over as medicine supplies dwindled and dried and the fresh kill pile remained low in its impression in the earth. It was a season of ill omens and bad fortune.

The scent of snow was crisp in the air as finally Dovepaw stirred, the tall and fluffy greyscale apprentice rising to his paws haggardly. He had been getting poor sleep more days then not, and longed for newleaf when all came back into abundance and he could feel a little more at ease with letting himself relax and not fear he might inadvertently let trouble befall the clan by doing so.

Whiskers twitched, and Dovepaw pushed warily outside. Sunrise was here now, but it was still quiet this early, and he flicked his ears back as one foot probed the snow before stepping out, his long legs and tail quickly catching the powdery substance in his fur as he shivered in annoyance at the first touch of it. He glanced around, amber eyes searching the camp. then giving pause with a jerk as he noticed his leader surveying the camp just outside their den as well. He swallowed, a jerky nod of greeting and twitch of his tail signing towards Shackledstar, then slunk to the fresh-kill pile, nervous and holding himself low. He circled the pile, nose twitching as he sniffed it, then, submitting to the fact that he couldn't walk away without eating in front of another, having no obvious excuse, and that he was dizzy with hunger anyways, he slid a lizard off the pile, retreating past Shackledstar to crouch just outside the medicine den, then paused, indecision taking him as he wondered if he should not offer to share with the other cat as courteous offer to his leader since he was so greedy to take a meal first in front of them.

Starclan

A thin blanket of snow had settled on Shackledstar's head and back as he watched the muted colors of the pine trees become more vibrant as day broke over the surface of the forest. The sky, once clear, had become overcast with gray clouds. The movement from the Medicine Den had caught his eye, and he had watched as Dovepaw padded into the clearing. A flicker of amusement crossed his face as he noted the sudden jerk the apprentice had when he noticed Shackledstar sitting alone at the entrance of his den. He gave a nod in return, and looked away as the gray tom grabbed his breakfast for the day. Although the large warrior felt a gentle rumble in his own stomach, he declined the notion of retrieving prey until the queens and elders were fed.

With that thought in mind, the gray tom stood up and walked across to the fresh kill pile where he picked up a couple of lizards by their tails before padding over to the elders den. For a few heartbeats, he shared tongues with the ex warriors, happy to see them doing well. A flick of his ear foretold his farewell when he backed out of the den, and paused as he signaled with his tail to Dovepaw to do the same for the queens. He had to wake Duckburr before it got too late in the morning.

@absurdjinx

Dovepaw wasn't sure if he should feel relief or not when Shackledstar glanced away from him with a nod before leaping down nimbly to pad towards the fresh-kill pile themselves. Crouching, his bellyfur gathering soft snow as long hairs caught it, he dropped the cold reptile in front of his paws, tail curling around himself as he watched his leader a few moments more as the powerful tom took two lizards and padded to the Elders den. As soon as he started to enter the brambles and under the branches that marked the den, Dovepaw began eating, his unease and general guilt of eating during the leafbare made him swallow quickly, mentally thanking the cats who caught it and starclan while begging forgiveness for having to take it while so healthy and young a cat.

Eating was a necessary act, but that didn't make it easier to look at the fresh-kill pile. If only hunger did not impair Dovepaw so much he would gladly forego eating days at a time during the cold season if only not to fret about if the hunters should find prey too scarce to catch enough and the clan starving. Still, he had long learned that keeping at least some strength made for a necessary evil...

Dovepaw flicked his ears, cleaning his muzzle briefly with a few rough licks and a rub of his paw, already finished by the time Shackledstar emerged again from the Elders den. His eyes widened slightly as older tom gestured towards him, but even still the apprentice was quick to jump to his paws, his trotting steps quick and low as he gingerly approached the pile again, dragging a fat frog and lizard from the top, ears tilting back slightly as he circled around to the Nursery. Hesitating slightly outside it, the smokey tom pushed inside finally, nodding to the Queens as he dropped the fresh-kill before them, a nod greeting as he checked briefly on the kits and made sure there was no trouble with them or the kits or anything they should need. He should find time to clean the bedding later he thought, or perhaps even now... but he wanted to check to make sure none of the morning business would need him or Lilydawn shouldn't have want of his presence...

Shackledstar observed Dovepaw for a couple of heartbeats to make sure he had gotten the silent order before turning to the warriors den, and padding over, relishing in the soft crunch of snow beneath his paws. It reminded him of a particular memory when he and Fleetfoot had gone hunting in a tail length of snow. They had been balancing on the thin surface of ice that had threatened to fracture beneath their paw steps at any time and send them into the depths of a cold world. A chuckle escaped Shackledstar as he recalled his apprentice doing just that. Her screech had sent any prey in the area scrambling for shelter when she fell through and struggled in the fox leg of snow. She had truly thought she was going to suffocate before Shackledstar had gotten her out of the messy ditch she had created. They had caught nothing that day, and returned back to camp where Ebonypelt looked over her... The powerful warrior blinked when he realized he was standing, frozen, in front of the warriors den. What a fool he was to be caught up in such thoughts when his clan needed him.

"Duckburr," he called, his meow deep and commanding, "It has snowed, my friend, and the patrols need to be sent out before the prey freeze and hide in their dens."

Shackledstar turned away from the brambles, and padded back to the fresh kill pile. He hoped that Duckburr was okay. The leaf bare had been cold and long this year, and he felt a faint worry that the deputy might be sick since he hadn't appeared as he usually did. The tom typically took his job as second in command more seriously, but perhaps he was just tired. A rustling from the direction of the warriors den alerted him to a group of his cats stretching and waking from their nests. They nodded to him as they arrived next to the fresh kill pile, looking around at the white scenery around them before realizing that the food was low.

"Birchclaw," he meowed softly, "Take these two on a patrol to the SkyClan border. Hunt on the way." With a nod from her, Shackledstar watched as the three warriors left the camp to do as he said. He turned back to the warriors den, tail twitching irritably.

OOC. I hope it's okay if I use Birchclaw as a NPC? She's alive and well right?

Relief showed evidently on Shackledstar's face when Duckburr finally emerged from the warriors den, appearing apologetic from his lack of punctually. The large warrior flicked his tail in greeting, ignoring the deputies strange title altogether, and instead, a flicker of amusement sparkled in his amber eyes. Back in the day, when Duckburr had first joined the clan, it had been odd to hear the terms he would use towards other cats, and although the gray leader had never asked why he used such a strange style of speech, he wondered about it daily. However, it didn't harm any cat, and Shackledstar felt no need to ever question it vocally. In any case, the fluffy tom had more reason to question the thick furred warriors appearance when he woke up.

"It's fine," Shackledstar meowed strictly, "I sent Birchclaw and a couple of others out for a border and hunting patrol just now. It would be best if we send out another patrol for the RiverClan border, and a couple individual hunting patrols since prey is running low currently."

Triangular ears swerved to listen to the soft crunch of additional paws from the warriors den, drawing Shackledstar's amber gaze to the muddled colors of Pigeonstep and Secretsong. He waved his plumed tail in greeting as they each drew near him. Faint amusement made his whiskers twitch when he recognized that the younger of the two warriors hadn't acknowledged him with the appropriate gesture again. No matter. Such traditions were usually lost upon him anyway, and he couldn't fathom any real reason to reprimand such a trivial reoccurrence.

The large tom turned his attention back to his deputy, glossing over Secretsong, as muted surprise colored his broad face. He realized that the other warriors presence was missed, and had to take a few swiped glances at the snowy glade before seeing Duckburr had already crossed the clearing to the camps exit. The other tom looked over his shoulder, guilt evident in his eyes before he turned away, and departed into the pale forest. Concern prickled at Shackledstar's chest as he remembered the remorseful expression Duckburr had shown when he had appeared from the warriors den. Had he looked too annoyed? What was the tom doing going out into the forest by himself?

Despite knowing that Duckburr could certainly take care of himself, Shackledstar couldn't prevent himself from following the tom. Would it injure the toms pride if he went by himself to check on him? Would he think that his leader was coming to scold him again? He paused at the camps exit, glancing back to Secretsong and Pigeonstep. A patrol would be a decent excuse. With that thought, the massive warrior motioned to them with his tail.

"We're going patrolling," he told them, his deep voice resonated by the stillness of the air, making it seem louder than it was.